Independence Day

noun

: a civil holiday for the celebration of the anniversary of the beginnings of national independence

specifically : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776

Examples of Independence Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The high school band has played at Dodger Stadium, and next year the band members, many of whom have never been on a plane, will fly to Washington, D.C., to perform in the America’s National Independence Day Parade on Constitution Avenue. —Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2024

Betty Brinn is closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 22 July 2024

By late Saturday night, some 48 hours after the debate, the whole family was at Camp David — not for some emergency council, but for a prearranged gathering in the days before Independence Day. —Matt Viser, Washington Post, 20 July 2024

Weather phenomena, freak occurrences, and industrial mishaps can be disasters, whereas something like Independence Day’s alien invasion, despite having plenty of destruction, is an attack rather than a disaster. —James Grebey, TIME, 19 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Independence Day

noun

: a holiday celebrating the beginnings of a nation's independence

especially : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in honor of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776